Waiter and Waitress Salary in Worcester, MA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median $36,840 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,159 take-home, or $2,513 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Worcester, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,241
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,284
- Medicare (1.45%)$534
- Massachusetts income tax$1,622
- Take-home pay$30,159
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Worcester, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,909 | $2,159 |
| 25th percentile | $33,900 | $16.30 | $27,944 | $2,329 |
| Median (50th) | $36,840 | $17.71 | $30,159 | $2,513 |
| 75th percentile | $43,930 | $21.12 | $35,501 | $2,958 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,720 | $28.71 | $47,399 | $3,950 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,840 buys in Worcester, MA
Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,159 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,417 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Worcester, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Worcester, MA ranks #74 of 148 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 74 | Worcester, MA | $36,840 | $30,159 | $29,417 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $38,380
- Springfield, MA — $36,170
- Boston, MA — $39,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Worcester, MA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Worcester, MA metro area is $36,840 a year, or about $17.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,900 and $43,930.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Worcester, MA?
On the median $36,840 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $30,159 a year ($2,513 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,622 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Worcester, MA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,417 would in a typical U.S. city. Worcester, MA ranks #74 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Worcester, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Worcester, MA is $1,558 a month ($1,997 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Worcester, MA
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,610